The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-12-24

pards were the matadors, or butchers, ana
Christian men, women and children were
the victims. The amphitheater described
2y Mr.. Russell contained seats rising one
above another in circles, capable OF accom-
modating $500 TO 5000 people. In the
center was a walled circle, or pit, where
the bloody spectacle was Gesplayed. These,
20 us, slckenlng shows were pa'ronized by
Cubans of every grade of society from the
Governor General, who conducted the
exhibition, 10 the slave out for holiday
or the lowest scum Of city, or country. AT
signal bull Is driven through a door
into the ring, and the door closing after
him, leaves him In stupid bewildernment
AT first, TIL the sharp points Of swords,
spears and barbed arrows arouse his In
siinct of self preservation, or his fierce
propensity for war. He is driven about
the ring, by men on horse back and on
foot who nimbly and dextrousIy avoid his
horns, until maddened by disappointed
efforts to reach his cruel tormenters, he
blindly rushes at every object and at length
exhausted by his frantic efforts, bleeding
from numerous wonds, and nearly over
come at signal the "killersn approaches
with red scarf, or cloth, in one hand and
long keen, thin sword in the other. The
Infatuated bull charges upon him. He
points his sword with unerring aim, and it
sinks into the victims body between the
shoulder blade into the heart and the poor
creatures battle is over, he drops dead ard
is hauled hence that another may meet "A
similar fate No American or Englishman
ever desires TO witness a bull tight more
than once, while the natives crowd every
entertainment of the kind rs eager spec.
tators as people of different training would
be upon excellenty presented plays of
Shakespeare or superb opera performances.
Mr.. Russell relates story of a country.
man who had visited bull fight and from
his knowledge of managing oxen on a
plantation drought himself qualified to
"do up" a mad bull Presently his op-
portunity arrived. A sturdy animal was
turned into the ring, but instead of staring
wildly about and manifesting war, as most
of them do, he appeared very tame. The
country amateur sprang into the ring shook
his "sombrero" (haD in the face of the bull,
who promptly and Unexpectedly accepted
the challenge and next moment the fellow
was turning double summers ault In the
air! As he fell the bull sprang at him,
but was prevented from finishing the
tragedy by an expert matador who blinded
him with cloth while the countryman
was rescued from his deadly peril. The
The audience yelled "bravo Toro" (hurrah
tor the bulD and the Crest-fallen young man
stole away.
CUBAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
1t was the practice Of Spanish explorers
on discovering a country, to plant cross
where they first landed. Near the Plaza,
In Havana, Is such a cross, now enclosed
within splendid and roomy cathedral.
The Catholic was the only religion in Ha.
vana In 1885, or at least the only one having
houses for worship. The churches were
curious structures Of heavy stone walls,
large flags Of stone for floors, no seats or
pews, but many row of wooden benches
around next 70 the walls for visitors. The
members entered and dropped upon their
knees anywhere on the flags, when tired
Of this position, by dextrous movement
Of the body, they could "sit upon their
hunkers," u trick which the members, fine
ladies and ALL had reduced 10 science and
could perform with such agility and appar
ent ease rs to abstract no notice from strang
ers except the query, how they did lt9 Mr..
Russell never got II down fine with all his
efforts. Finely dressed ladies', In black
silks, but wearing no diamonds or other
jewels, rode In their volantes, and on arriv
Ing at the church door, would be followed
or proceeded by their negro valet with a
rug, which he would deposit upon any I'M
occupied space upon the the floor for his
mistress and then retire. Here In a cur.
ious mixture-side by side, the rich, the
poor, the ragged and the silked and satined,
knelt In their devotions, no pews, no par.
ticular spot theirs; all on level SO many
supplicants for mercy. The cathedral
had splendid chime of bells and a big
bell which was never rung except on par
tlcular occasions. Ii was so heavy and the
tongue so large that 1t required the united
efforts of six men to swing the clapper,
and Its deep tones we're heard for miles
In this cathedral were supposed to he the
remains OF Christopher Columbus, under
two large slabs in the floor, which bore the
simple name Colon. the Spanish for the
great navigator.
To n Continusdl
The Local Lounger.
IL seems 10 be difficult matter 70 keen